Romans: A Theological Commentary on the Bible

by Sarah Heaner Lancaster

"Christians may not have shared the details of the particular situation of the Roman followers of Jesus, but they have shared for centuries the concern about what faith means for life, and they have turned to Paul to understand what it means to be faithful to our faithful God."
—from the introduction

For centuries, the apostle Paul's reflections in the book of Romans have shaped Christian thinking about the gospel of Jesus Christ and how we can be faithful to the gospel. Key theologians including Augustine, Luther, Wesley, and Barth have wrestled with Romans and listened to it, understanding it in relation to questions of their own times. In her theological commentary, Sarah Heaner Lancaster helps us hear Romans anew for today. She considers major elements such as the old and new perspectives on Paul, justification, the relation of Jews and Christians, Empire, and disagreements in the church. Lancaster helps us recognize the importance of the letter during the time it was written, as well as its ongoing meanings now. Paul's insights go beyond the pragmatic to the theological, which gives Romans its enduring significance and ongoing value. Lancaster's excellent commentary helps us for preaching, teaching, and worship to hear Paul's message afresh and to be strengthened and challenged in our Christian faith.

Genres: Theology

315 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 9, 2015

Reviews

[Whitney Dziurawiec · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really appreciated the tone of this commentary and its approach to both perspectives on Paul. Lancaster, though leaning toward the New Perspective, still graciously engages with and sees value in the old perspective as she grapples with the text. I really appreciated her emphasis on seeing Romans as a letter more than a theological treatise. Though I found some of her logic lacking and didn't find myself agreeing with every conclusion, I specifically started with this commentary over ultra-reformed theologians to help this oft-quoted epistle feel fresher to me, and I can definitely say that Lancaster was a good choice to achieve that.

[Robert D. Cornwall · Rating 4 out of 5]

There are all kinds of commentaries on the Bible. Some are devotional. Some are scholarly, making use of the Greek and Hebrew and Aramaic. Consider, for instance, Cranfield's A Critical and Exegetical Commentary on the Epistle to the Romans: Introduction and Commentary on Romans I-VIII, Vol. 1. Still, others, are theological -- consider Karl Barth's The Epistle to the Romans. Among the latter one can place Sarah Heaner Lancaster's commentary on Romans.

I received a review copy of this book back in 2015 when it was published. Unfortunately, I didn't have time to get to it, so I put it on the shelf until such time as I might use it. And, over time I've drawn upon it. Then this summer the lectionary has taken us to Romans, and I've had need of her commentary, which is a very fine commentary.

This is a fitting contribution to the WJK Publishings Belief series, which I've found most useful as new volumes have been published. Lancaster takes a theological approach to the text, often drawing on Barth, but she engages in strong exegetical work as well. While it doesn't require the kind of scholarly acumen that Cranfield requires, it's still very scholarly. I highly recommend this volume and the series in which sits. Preachers should consult it, but anyone who wishes to engage with the text of Romans and find wisdom in its words will find this commentary to be a valuable contribution.

[George · Rating 5 out of 5]

I preached through the book of Romans this summer (2023). Eighteen weeks. I read several books as part of that journey. This commentary by Sarah Heaner Lancaster was by far the most helpful, and that’s not a shot at the other books - this one is just that good. I’m pretty sure I’ve never read a commentary straight through from beginning to end. This one I did and it read that way beautifully. Threads were introduced and developed throughout. Very solid work - highly recommend.

[Rick Dugan · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you can only have a couple of commentaries on Romans, this should be one. Lancaster synthesizes ancient and recent theologians into her commentary. Scholarly, yet readable.

[Shaela · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm conflicted on how to review this. On the one hand, I strongly disagree with the author's assessment of Romans 1 as Paul's condemnation of 1st century homosexual excess and exploitation rather than ruling out all homosexual behavior as contrary to God's law. On the other hand, I found this commentary really helpful while researching a paper on Romans 8. The author does an excellent job examining and exegeting (most of) the text, while peppering her work with compelling questions and good contemporary applications.